I just ordered Reusies for my whole FAMILY - basically these are reusable bags (think never buy another plastic sandwich bag again!) that are sandwich sized, but can also hold snacks! They are super cute. They regularly cost $9.00 each, but they were featured on Good Morning America today and if you use the coupon GMA when ordering they were 50% off (I think this may be for today, August 15, only)! That is worth it in my opinion since we seem to go through countless plastic bags and these are, obviously, much more environmentally friendly!
Just wanted to share - I know I haven't posted much lately - a TON of stuff has been going on in our family, but I should have a few more interesting posts sharing some information in the next few days. Can't wait to catch up!
Showing posts with label Money Limit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money Limit. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Seattle, Tempe, and San Diego Area Adventure Run on July 6 (FREE with PRIZES) and Giveaway Reminder
Quick note with two timely items:
For my readers in the Seattle, WA, San Diego, CA or Tempe, AZ Area, Roadrunner Sports is hosting an Adventure Run with TONS of prizes/giveaways on Thursday, July 6, 2011. I wish I lived closer to the Seattle store! Best of all, registration is FREE! If you go, let me know what goodies you were able to score!
And, don't forget, our Giveaway ends TONIGHT at 9 pm. And don't forget to include your bonus entry!
For my readers in the Seattle, WA, San Diego, CA or Tempe, AZ Area, Roadrunner Sports is hosting an Adventure Run with TONS of prizes/giveaways on Thursday, July 6, 2011. I wish I lived closer to the Seattle store! Best of all, registration is FREE! If you go, let me know what goodies you were able to score!
And, don't forget, our Giveaway ends TONIGHT at 9 pm. And don't forget to include your bonus entry!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
New (Half) Year Resolutions!
Do you know what Friday is? It is July 1, 2011, the official start to the second half of the year! It got me thinking (what doesn't these days as I try to shun the vision of my bike crash on that one left turn.....oh, once again, I digress). I typically don't do New Year Resolutions. Well, not publicly anyway. Frankly, I think all too often we put too much emphasis on them, but I do, in my head, usually have some goals. But I have been thinking ahead already to the off season and what I would like to do to make sure I don't lose my training gains and can have an even better season next year. Plus, I have a half marathon to train for in May next year! Setting out my goals for the remainder of 2011 has had a much sunnier outlook than when I did them this past January. I think perhaps considering New (Half) Year Resolutions when it comes to health and fitness has some serious potential. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Everyone won't be asking you how you are doing on your New Year Resolutions unless you tell them you made New (Half) Year Resolutions! (Until this blog post rockets through the universe, right?)
2. If you are inclined to join a gym, many gyms have great deals on summer enrollment because their numbers decrease during the summer.
3. Facilities you may use will be less crowded. With the nice weather and vacations, etc, many facilities are much less crowded during the summer. So whether you are self conscious or just prefer to not wait for a machine, a swim lane, or potentially get bumped from a class at the gym, you will find much less crowding during the summer!
4. Daylight is on your side. First, the extra hours of daylight and sun always tend to give me more energy. And, if you are like me, you may want to do a run or a swim with daylight and warmer temps. Early morning workouts or late evening workouts are much easier during the summer!
5. Nutritionally, fun and exciting fruits and vegetables are much more readily available and cheaper during the summer. One of my goals is to "eat the rainbow" more consistently. What better time to find readily available fruits and vegetables, with increased variety, than during their optimal growing season! My guess is you find some choices you would not consider (or even find) during the winter. If you find something in particular you can not live without during the winter months, you can freeze, can, etc the item to have all year long at the best prices and highest quality!
6. Summer time allows you to find your bliss. The type of activities available to try during the summer - walking, running, biking, swimming, team sports, etc - are much easier to find during the nicer weather. Start sampling now and I bet you find your "must have" activity before the weather turns!
7. By the time the winter blahs roll around, you will be so entrenched in your new routine it will be a habit and something you just HAVE to continue to complete your day. Let's face it, when the alarm goes off on a cold, rainy (or even snowy) winter day at 5 am for a workout, it sure is hard to force yourself out of your nice warm bed. But by that time, if you start now, I suspect you will find you appreciate or even look forward to that time for yourself and it will be much easier to get it done.
7. Your Holiday 5 (you know, that 5 or even more pounds you put on during the holidays) will be much easier to avoid if you set up good habits NOW!
So, share YOUR New (Half) Year Resolution! What's in it for you, you ask? (well, besides a goal you can work towards?) How about a BONUS ENTRY into our Giveaway! If you have already entered our Giveaway, and comment here with a New (Half) Year Resolution, you will get an additional bonus entry! I will add all the separate comments here to the end of the comments on the Giveaway to assign it a number for our random drawing.
AND, PLEASE NOTE on the Giveaway page, each separate comment is only ONE entry. That is the best way for me to make it random with a random number generator, so if you posted all the WONDERFUL things you did in one comment, try to go back and separate each action into a separate comment so I can give you credit for all the entries you obtained. I will also email commenters separately to have them do that so they get the credit they deserve. I will be clearer next time to avoid such confusion!
1. Everyone won't be asking you how you are doing on your New Year Resolutions unless you tell them you made New (Half) Year Resolutions! (Until this blog post rockets through the universe, right?)
2. If you are inclined to join a gym, many gyms have great deals on summer enrollment because their numbers decrease during the summer.
3. Facilities you may use will be less crowded. With the nice weather and vacations, etc, many facilities are much less crowded during the summer. So whether you are self conscious or just prefer to not wait for a machine, a swim lane, or potentially get bumped from a class at the gym, you will find much less crowding during the summer!
4. Daylight is on your side. First, the extra hours of daylight and sun always tend to give me more energy. And, if you are like me, you may want to do a run or a swim with daylight and warmer temps. Early morning workouts or late evening workouts are much easier during the summer!
5. Nutritionally, fun and exciting fruits and vegetables are much more readily available and cheaper during the summer. One of my goals is to "eat the rainbow" more consistently. What better time to find readily available fruits and vegetables, with increased variety, than during their optimal growing season! My guess is you find some choices you would not consider (or even find) during the winter. If you find something in particular you can not live without during the winter months, you can freeze, can, etc the item to have all year long at the best prices and highest quality!
6. Summer time allows you to find your bliss. The type of activities available to try during the summer - walking, running, biking, swimming, team sports, etc - are much easier to find during the nicer weather. Start sampling now and I bet you find your "must have" activity before the weather turns!
7. By the time the winter blahs roll around, you will be so entrenched in your new routine it will be a habit and something you just HAVE to continue to complete your day. Let's face it, when the alarm goes off on a cold, rainy (or even snowy) winter day at 5 am for a workout, it sure is hard to force yourself out of your nice warm bed. But by that time, if you start now, I suspect you will find you appreciate or even look forward to that time for yourself and it will be much easier to get it done.
7. Your Holiday 5 (you know, that 5 or even more pounds you put on during the holidays) will be much easier to avoid if you set up good habits NOW!
So, share YOUR New (Half) Year Resolution! What's in it for you, you ask? (well, besides a goal you can work towards?) How about a BONUS ENTRY into our Giveaway! If you have already entered our Giveaway, and comment here with a New (Half) Year Resolution, you will get an additional bonus entry! I will add all the separate comments here to the end of the comments on the Giveaway to assign it a number for our random drawing.
AND, PLEASE NOTE on the Giveaway page, each separate comment is only ONE entry. That is the best way for me to make it random with a random number generator, so if you posted all the WONDERFUL things you did in one comment, try to go back and separate each action into a separate comment so I can give you credit for all the entries you obtained. I will also email commenters separately to have them do that so they get the credit they deserve. I will be clearer next time to avoid such confusion!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Being Nutritionally Prepared and OUR FIRST GIVEAWAY!!! [GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED]
Out of necessity, I began packing my lunch EVERY day about 4 years ago. Eating out is just not convenient for me. Sounds odd, but true. I have found, however, that nothing is better than bringing my own lunch and snacks. I have a choice when I pack my food for the day and if I choose wisely it is very easy to stick to my intended intake for the day. Of course, on days where we celebrate Birthdays and other special events, I lose some control, but given the consistency of my intake day after day, those days really don't have an impact.
When I was returning to work after the birth of my son, I needed a new lunch bag/milk bag. A friend with Thirty-One Gifts mentioned a great special on thermal lunch totes. I have always loved the look of Thirty-One items, particularly the casual totes and home organization items. So, I decided to order one for myself. I also decided to order one for each of my girls. Our bags are pictured above. I love mine. It is the perfect size whether I take a sandwich or a Lean Cuisine and all my snacks. Seriously, that is a LOT of snacks. Most days my bag holds not only a sandwich, but a yogurt, a cheese stick or cottage cheese, two pieces of fruit, a granola bar, and occasionally other containers of fruit or nuts. And, it is more than enough room to bring home a few bottles and my empty containers. They clean up marvelously as well. I was not surprised though that I loved my bag.
What I was surprised about was how much my girls like them. They are so proud to carry their bags whenever we head out for more than just a few errands. We use them for packing lunches and snacks ALL. THE. TIME. In fact, I have to hide them at home so they don't carry them around all day! And, when I say they clean up well, if you knew my youngest daughter you would know it would HAVE to clean up well for us to still be using them 5 months after we got them! The biggest reason I love these bags is since the girls are so proud to take them everywhere, we all prepare healthy snacks and avoid the fast food nightmare. And, it is so much cheaper to be prepared with healthy snacks from home! Who knew cute little bags could have such an impact on my kids, who always would ask to stop at McDonalds!
So, when I mentioned to my friend I wanted to do a post about how much I loved these bags, she was so gracious to offer to provide one for a GIVEAWAY!! My first giveaway to my readers! The winner will receive one thermal tote and get to choose their fabric! So, here is how it will work:
The Giveaway will end at 9pm PST on Thursday, June 30. I will choose a winner at random from the comments left below and post the winner here on Friday, July 1. I will send you an email (so be sure to include an email address) and will need you to respond to me within 48 hours to receive directions on how to order your thermal tote! There are several ways to enter, the first entry is mandatory and each additional item below will give you one additional entry:
1. MANDATORY entry: Visit Thirty-One Gifts and tell us in a comment which fabric you would choose for your thermal tote and tell us what would be your favorite healthy snack to carry in it.
2. Subscribe to my blog via email or your favorite feed and leave a comment telling me you did so. You must confirm your subscription.
3. Like From the Glider Rocker to the Finish Line on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.
4. Share this Giveaway on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.
5. Follow From the Glider Rocker to the Finish Line on Twitter and leave a comment telling me you are a follower with your Twitter name.
6. Retweet this Giveaway on Twitter and paste it in a comment below.
7. Email Christy at Thirty-One through her Thirty-One web page to subscribe to her email list and leave a comment below telling me you did so.
Good Luck Everyone!
Disclaimer: This Giveaway has been provided by Christy at Thirty-One. I have and will not receive any compensation for this Giveaway or my review of the thermal lunch totes. All opinions offered on the thermal lunch totes are my own.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The 5K Run: A Universal Motivator!
I now call a 5K run a universal motivator. Why? Well, it is simple - it is a motivator for so many people from varied backgrounds and at varied training levels, and, in my experience, one never regrets whatever 5K event they particpate in. Here is why I reached this conclusion:
1. Anyone can do this event. Seriously, 5Ks are generally low key, stroller and pet friendly, and a lot of people WALK. Now, you need to check all this out when you see an event you are interested in and if it doesn't fit for you, I am willing to bet you can find another 5K event that same day in your area that is a fit for you! Walk, run, or walk/run and you are moving - every step counts and it is a great start to becoming more active or even, gulp, a runner!
2. If you want to train to run a 5K there are lots of FREE options! First, if you have tennis shoes in a reasonably good condition, some pants you can move in, and a road/field/sidewalk/whatever you can train for a 5K. I know people who train for 5K's at the mall, in their neighborhood, at a lakeside trail, or strictly on a treadmill where NO ONE can see them! You can also search for training plans that take you from the couch to a 5K in small baby steps. Google "Couch to 5K" and you will find hundreds of free plans. One free plan I found and like is this free plan at Beginnertriathlete.com. Are you a tech junkie? I know people doing a Couch to 5K training program (C25K) on their iphones and ipods, and probably a million other tech gadgets I don't own. Googling "C25K podcast" or "C25K android" produced results, but I can't speak as to their value. As I understand it the program will run while you listen to music and will tell you when to run and when to walk over a specified period of time taking you through workouts that incorporate longer and longer bursts of running over a series of weeks until you are running the whole thing (or almost the whole thing). I wish I had an iphone or ipod! And then I wish I had the time to learn how to use it!
3. 5K events are often and cheap! Registering for a 5K is really inexpensive compared to other events. Many events are twenty dollars or less, or are available by fundraising for a particular charity. And, 5K events, at least in my area, are available (in multiples) EVERY weekend! If you need help finding an event, you can just search on 5K and your town, or look on sites that are used for registering for such events like Active.com. You can also look in your local paper, browse the bulletin board at your local sports equipment stores, or just ask someone at your gym. Many running oriented sports retailers have free fun runs on the weekends as well. One such store in my neighborhood is Roadrunner Sports.
4. Even if you are training for or running longer events or multisport events, a 5K event mixes up training and adds race day elements to your training. By adding a 5K event into your training, you can find race day motivation to push harder and just have FUN, which can be sometimes hard to do as you push toward increased endurance levels. Furthermore, during rest weeks or taper weeks in your training they can add some spice when you are frustrated by having to hold yourself back. I was talking last night with an individual who was on a taper week in preparation for this weekend's Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene. He was antsy to race and antsy about his taper week of training, but grinned as he said he PR'd his 5K this week. Even at his level of training a 5K was a fun and motivational element in his taper week. Furthermore, if you are struggling to reach a new pace level, like I am, running with others in a 5K race can allow you to mentally mark that higher pace for yourself so you can implement that pace in your training.
So, if you are looking to begin a more active lifestyle, but just need that one thing to help you take that first step, whether it be walking or running, I challenge you to look into a 5K event! Or, step back from your focus on longer events and spice up your training with a 5K event and you may add a new PR of your own! And, if you are so inclined, tell me about it here and keep me posted on how it all works out!
ALSO, if you are using a C25K app, as I know a few of my readers are, and can offer your review of the app, please share your views and recommendations in a comment or via email so I can share them on the blog!
And just a reminder, tomorrow I will fill everyone in on how my search for my perfect running shoe transpired and whether I fell off the treadmill at the store!
1. Anyone can do this event. Seriously, 5Ks are generally low key, stroller and pet friendly, and a lot of people WALK. Now, you need to check all this out when you see an event you are interested in and if it doesn't fit for you, I am willing to bet you can find another 5K event that same day in your area that is a fit for you! Walk, run, or walk/run and you are moving - every step counts and it is a great start to becoming more active or even, gulp, a runner!
2. If you want to train to run a 5K there are lots of FREE options! First, if you have tennis shoes in a reasonably good condition, some pants you can move in, and a road/field/sidewalk/whatever you can train for a 5K. I know people who train for 5K's at the mall, in their neighborhood, at a lakeside trail, or strictly on a treadmill where NO ONE can see them! You can also search for training plans that take you from the couch to a 5K in small baby steps. Google "Couch to 5K" and you will find hundreds of free plans. One free plan I found and like is this free plan at Beginnertriathlete.com. Are you a tech junkie? I know people doing a Couch to 5K training program (C25K) on their iphones and ipods, and probably a million other tech gadgets I don't own. Googling "C25K podcast" or "C25K android" produced results, but I can't speak as to their value. As I understand it the program will run while you listen to music and will tell you when to run and when to walk over a specified period of time taking you through workouts that incorporate longer and longer bursts of running over a series of weeks until you are running the whole thing (or almost the whole thing). I wish I had an iphone or ipod! And then I wish I had the time to learn how to use it!
3. 5K events are often and cheap! Registering for a 5K is really inexpensive compared to other events. Many events are twenty dollars or less, or are available by fundraising for a particular charity. And, 5K events, at least in my area, are available (in multiples) EVERY weekend! If you need help finding an event, you can just search on 5K and your town, or look on sites that are used for registering for such events like Active.com. You can also look in your local paper, browse the bulletin board at your local sports equipment stores, or just ask someone at your gym. Many running oriented sports retailers have free fun runs on the weekends as well. One such store in my neighborhood is Roadrunner Sports.
4. Even if you are training for or running longer events or multisport events, a 5K event mixes up training and adds race day elements to your training. By adding a 5K event into your training, you can find race day motivation to push harder and just have FUN, which can be sometimes hard to do as you push toward increased endurance levels. Furthermore, during rest weeks or taper weeks in your training they can add some spice when you are frustrated by having to hold yourself back. I was talking last night with an individual who was on a taper week in preparation for this weekend's Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene. He was antsy to race and antsy about his taper week of training, but grinned as he said he PR'd his 5K this week. Even at his level of training a 5K was a fun and motivational element in his taper week. Furthermore, if you are struggling to reach a new pace level, like I am, running with others in a 5K race can allow you to mentally mark that higher pace for yourself so you can implement that pace in your training.
So, if you are looking to begin a more active lifestyle, but just need that one thing to help you take that first step, whether it be walking or running, I challenge you to look into a 5K event! Or, step back from your focus on longer events and spice up your training with a 5K event and you may add a new PR of your own! And, if you are so inclined, tell me about it here and keep me posted on how it all works out!
ALSO, if you are using a C25K app, as I know a few of my readers are, and can offer your review of the app, please share your views and recommendations in a comment or via email so I can share them on the blog!
And just a reminder, tomorrow I will fill everyone in on how my search for my perfect running shoe transpired and whether I fell off the treadmill at the store!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
The Search for the Perfect Running Shoe!
I need new running shoes. I have always been a buy the sale shoe off the shelf kind of gal. I think I need to perhaps move beyond that practice. So, I am reluctantly going to go to my favorite running store Roadrunner Sports to get fitted for running shoes. Why am I reluctant? Well, they make you run on a treadmill in the middle of the store. I am that self-conscious! I get butterflies just writing about it - how ridiculous is that! I will be running in less than two weeks in front of a whole bunch of spectators at a race, and then two weeks later in one of the most festive race weekends in Washington! I better get over that whole issue soon!
I know finding the right shoe is priceless. I found a great shoe by chance, which has made running a whole lot easier. I do think I can do even better if I get a formal fitting, particularly since I have very flat feet and week joints, so good shoes are absolutely necessary. Best of all, the evaluation is free (well, in terms of dollars, not irrational stress!). Now, bear in mind, I expect I will need to talk the person down into my budget range, but that is ok, it is a moderate budget for new shoes.
Even better, my local store at Kent Commons has ladies night Thursday night! Come out and join in on the fun. VIP members get 20% off and they are promising GREAT giveaways!
I will update everyone on how the shoe hunt and fit go - please send any "don't fall on the treadmill in front of all those people" vibes my way!
I know finding the right shoe is priceless. I found a great shoe by chance, which has made running a whole lot easier. I do think I can do even better if I get a formal fitting, particularly since I have very flat feet and week joints, so good shoes are absolutely necessary. Best of all, the evaluation is free (well, in terms of dollars, not irrational stress!). Now, bear in mind, I expect I will need to talk the person down into my budget range, but that is ok, it is a moderate budget for new shoes.
Even better, my local store at Kent Commons has ladies night Thursday night! Come out and join in on the fun. VIP members get 20% off and they are promising GREAT giveaways!
I will update everyone on how the shoe hunt and fit go - please send any "don't fall on the treadmill in front of all those people" vibes my way!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Looking for GREAT gear deals? Check out the new daily deal site from Active.com
I was forwarded this a few days ago and hadn't shared yet. Active.com, a site many use to register for activities such as fun runs, races, etc and which is a great resource for ALL types of information on exercise, activities, and even nutrition, now has a daily deal site similar to Groupon! They recently had a deal on triathlon clothing (which, dear Husband, if you are reading I DID pass on - I promise, no more training clothes except for......). Today's deal caught my eye because I could use some swim stuff - check it out - this a great deal and I LOVE TYR swim equipment and suits for swim workouts.
Check out Active.com's Daily Schwaggle and let me know what you think!
Enjoy!!!!
Check out Active.com's Daily Schwaggle and let me know what you think!
Enjoy!!!!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
I'm BAAAAAACK!
Happy New Year Everyone! I am ramping up to more substantive posts now that I have had my little boy (born October 29, 2010 weighing in at 10lbs 2 oz and 22.5 inches long!). I wanted to make everyone aware of some deals I saw this past week! First, Costco had a whole host of Jillian Michaels fitness dvds for 7.99. I picked up the 30 Day Shred and 6 Week Ab DVD. I like Jillian Michaels and LOVE the fact that her workouts are 20 - 30 minutes long so they are easy to fit in.
Second, in the Northwest, Fred Meyer had some really nice hand weights (coated with handles) on sale this past week. I suspect nationally you can find similar sales in the new year. Investing in some cheap handweights will allow you to expand your workouts at home for cheap. Of course, you can also use soup cans, canned fruit, etc, as handweights for almost free if you keep a stocked pantry! I just decided to splurge on some weights with little handles that are easier to manage!
I look forward to catching up this New Year as I once again begin my journey from the Glider Rocker to the Finish Line!
So, in the spirit of finding more excellent exercise DVDs - what are your favorite DVDs?
One other idea: Have a weekly or bi-weekly workout girls' hour - get together with friends and try out each other's exercise videos - we all have them, and joining in with friends and making it a social event will cause us to actually USE them! And, maybe share a healthy recipe as a post workout snack!
Second, in the Northwest, Fred Meyer had some really nice hand weights (coated with handles) on sale this past week. I suspect nationally you can find similar sales in the new year. Investing in some cheap handweights will allow you to expand your workouts at home for cheap. Of course, you can also use soup cans, canned fruit, etc, as handweights for almost free if you keep a stocked pantry! I just decided to splurge on some weights with little handles that are easier to manage!
I look forward to catching up this New Year as I once again begin my journey from the Glider Rocker to the Finish Line!
So, in the spirit of finding more excellent exercise DVDs - what are your favorite DVDs?
One other idea: Have a weekly or bi-weekly workout girls' hour - get together with friends and try out each other's exercise videos - we all have them, and joining in with friends and making it a social event will cause us to actually USE them! And, maybe share a healthy recipe as a post workout snack!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Great and VERY QUICK AND EASY Chicken Recipe
A friend forwarded this recipe to me which I made last night: Lemon-Apricot Chicken. This was so simple, I made it in about a half hour with a side of rice and vegetables. I did not use the curry powder as we don't keep that as a regular item in our pantry and I am trying to live by my pantry this week! But this was so good and so easy and enjoyed by my four year old and my 18 month old. I also pounded the chicken breasts a bit so it took less time to cook them and used very little salt. I was concerned by the sodium in the dish, but overall the nutrition information was not bad when paired with high fiber rice and a vegetable.
I have a piece of chicken left over, so I may try this on Wednesday: Chicken Taco Pizza. I just need to locate either a healthy premade crust or find some alternative. I will try to play with this to reduce sodium as well.
Do you have a quick and easy recipe you would like to share? Please post it in comments or email me and I will be happy to share it. One easy way to deal with the Money limit (it is cheaper to cook at home), the Knowledge limit (you know EXACTLY what is going into your meals), and the Time Limit (we need something quick and easy and, for me, that provides some sort of left overs to keep up with life at home!) is to cook healthy meals at home!
I have a piece of chicken left over, so I may try this on Wednesday: Chicken Taco Pizza. I just need to locate either a healthy premade crust or find some alternative. I will try to play with this to reduce sodium as well.
Do you have a quick and easy recipe you would like to share? Please post it in comments or email me and I will be happy to share it. One easy way to deal with the Money limit (it is cheaper to cook at home), the Knowledge limit (you know EXACTLY what is going into your meals), and the Time Limit (we need something quick and easy and, for me, that provides some sort of left overs to keep up with life at home!) is to cook healthy meals at home!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
An Unintended Experiement on How NOT to Fuel Your Body.
For those of you that are Facebook Fans you may have seen that my run Friday morning was less than stellar! I started my normal warm up (stretching, then walking on the treadmill for 5 minutes at 3.5 - 3.8 mph). Then I started jogging at just under 5 mph. Within minutes I was just spent, and annoyed, and discouraged. I thought just push through it; it will ease as you get going. Just not the case. By 8 minutes into the run, I was kind of panicking by how horrible I felt. Two minutes later, I was back down to a walk.
I was discouraged and already thinking "If this happens, how on earth am I going to finish that 5K at the end of a sprint triathlon!" Oh, the power of negative thinking, right? Then I started to wonder why this was happening. I turned immediately to what had I eaten that previous day.
On Thursday I was extremely busy and on the run. I had those dreaded errands to run during lunch, my fridge and pantry were showing the signs of just not having the time to effectively shop for the week. I was late for work in the morning, so I grabbed a couple of bananas, and apple, and made myself a sandwich with two tablespoons of peanut butter and two slices of low calorie whole grain bread. I never ate breakfast, per se, but I had eaten half a banana before my run and shoved the rest in my mouth on my way out the door.
At 11 am I was hungry, so I decided to eat half my sandwich, but finished the whole thing (I was seriously hungry after running that morning and failing to eat any "real" breakfast). I ran my lunch time errands and, I was so proud of myself for not throwing a candy bar in with the Valentine's I needed to get for my child's preschool party the next day! I returned to work and ate a banana. That was it for the day before dinner.
We had planned on plain old baked chicken (we throw it in the oven with a sprinkling of bread crumbs), baked potatoes, and a vegetable. When I got home, it was more of the same craziness. My spouse, while trying to make my life easier, ordered a pizza. I didn't even know it until it arrived at the door. So, I ate two pieces of pizza. I love pizza, but know it is far from a nutritious meal, and I can usually always predict scale results after eating pizza the night before, and those results aren't results you hope to see (yes, I am using the pound goal, but perhaps this is a good thing in this circumstance!).
That was my day. I can't even recall, but I don't even think I had a glass of milk. I drank sufficient water, but that was about all that was sufficient about Thursday's diet!
It became clear why, 16 minutes into my run, I was spent. Now I had eaten a small pre run snack, but even that wasn't my usual snack. I usually eat half a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter on it about 20 minutes before I run. Friday morning I skipped the peanut butter! So, even after eating very little protein the day before (a couple tablespoons of peanut butter, maybe some negligible protein in my pizza in the cheese and ham) I further deprived my body of protein by skipping it in my usual pre-run "snack!" And, right after that epiphany, my stomach gave a little confirmation by growling out of hunger.
So, some things I have taken away from my unintentional experiment:
1. Plan my week better, recognize deficiencies in my nutritional supplies, and try to stock up so I don't find myself hungry for lack of variety of nutritious foods.
2. Be creative if you find yourself depleted in time, money, or just sanity, to think about nutrition. I was so excited I passed up on the candy bar, but couldn't I have found myself something suitable to eat? I passed three grocery stores on my errands, and I could have simply even stopped and gotten some deli meat for a snack (and eaten it with the uneaten apple I had brought from home) and perhaps added a small container of low fat milk, and given my body more of what it requires to just operate!
3. Communicate more effectively. If I had been better at communicating my need to eat a well balanced healthy dinner I could have avoided the unnecessary purchase of a pizza by a well meaning spouse. Our chicken dinner for four may have cost $5-$7 but instead we spend $14.00 on a pizza (and that was with a 50% off coupon!).
4. Have a plan to execute the healthy dinner as I walk in the door. I was seriously stressed. If I had communicated my needs as discussed in (3) and then had a plan to get it started as soon as I walked in the door, it would have been cooking and ready as I dealt with all the other insanity while it was cooking. All it would have taken would have been thinking about the plan for less than 5 minutes of my 30 minute commute.
Many of the things I learned are subjects I have a million ideas and confirmed tricks to deal with, but even I have crazy days where they are not so second nature as to kick in when things get a little nutty.
Now, in my Facebook post I also mentioned how my horrific run turned into something positive. I am not forgetting that part, believe me! When I hit the treadmill on January 4, 2010, I noticed and committed to memory my distance at thirty-five minutes. Even with walking more than usual on Friday, and admittedly struggling and feeling horrible, questioning my abilities, and then being frustrated with my lack of attention to nutrition for the previous 24 hours, I reached that distance 3.5 minutes sooner than I had January 4. And, here I thought how my workout was such a failure - but really, that failure was still so much better than my "best" had been not even a month and a half before! That was inspiring! So much so, although I had planned to quit, I added another run interval and kept moving for 10 minutes more than I had planned as my run began to fall apart!
So, here is the question for you, my readers - When you have a crazy day, what is one thing you can have readily on hand to provide adequate nutrition to fuel your body? And, can you make it a priority to make sure this weekend, as you hit some store, you be sure you pick some up to have it on hand? Let me know what you decide on and how it works out for you!
I was discouraged and already thinking "If this happens, how on earth am I going to finish that 5K at the end of a sprint triathlon!" Oh, the power of negative thinking, right? Then I started to wonder why this was happening. I turned immediately to what had I eaten that previous day.
On Thursday I was extremely busy and on the run. I had those dreaded errands to run during lunch, my fridge and pantry were showing the signs of just not having the time to effectively shop for the week. I was late for work in the morning, so I grabbed a couple of bananas, and apple, and made myself a sandwich with two tablespoons of peanut butter and two slices of low calorie whole grain bread. I never ate breakfast, per se, but I had eaten half a banana before my run and shoved the rest in my mouth on my way out the door.
At 11 am I was hungry, so I decided to eat half my sandwich, but finished the whole thing (I was seriously hungry after running that morning and failing to eat any "real" breakfast). I ran my lunch time errands and, I was so proud of myself for not throwing a candy bar in with the Valentine's I needed to get for my child's preschool party the next day! I returned to work and ate a banana. That was it for the day before dinner.
We had planned on plain old baked chicken (we throw it in the oven with a sprinkling of bread crumbs), baked potatoes, and a vegetable. When I got home, it was more of the same craziness. My spouse, while trying to make my life easier, ordered a pizza. I didn't even know it until it arrived at the door. So, I ate two pieces of pizza. I love pizza, but know it is far from a nutritious meal, and I can usually always predict scale results after eating pizza the night before, and those results aren't results you hope to see (yes, I am using the pound goal, but perhaps this is a good thing in this circumstance!).
That was my day. I can't even recall, but I don't even think I had a glass of milk. I drank sufficient water, but that was about all that was sufficient about Thursday's diet!
It became clear why, 16 minutes into my run, I was spent. Now I had eaten a small pre run snack, but even that wasn't my usual snack. I usually eat half a banana with a tablespoon of peanut butter on it about 20 minutes before I run. Friday morning I skipped the peanut butter! So, even after eating very little protein the day before (a couple tablespoons of peanut butter, maybe some negligible protein in my pizza in the cheese and ham) I further deprived my body of protein by skipping it in my usual pre-run "snack!" And, right after that epiphany, my stomach gave a little confirmation by growling out of hunger.
So, some things I have taken away from my unintentional experiment:
1. Plan my week better, recognize deficiencies in my nutritional supplies, and try to stock up so I don't find myself hungry for lack of variety of nutritious foods.
2. Be creative if you find yourself depleted in time, money, or just sanity, to think about nutrition. I was so excited I passed up on the candy bar, but couldn't I have found myself something suitable to eat? I passed three grocery stores on my errands, and I could have simply even stopped and gotten some deli meat for a snack (and eaten it with the uneaten apple I had brought from home) and perhaps added a small container of low fat milk, and given my body more of what it requires to just operate!
3. Communicate more effectively. If I had been better at communicating my need to eat a well balanced healthy dinner I could have avoided the unnecessary purchase of a pizza by a well meaning spouse. Our chicken dinner for four may have cost $5-$7 but instead we spend $14.00 on a pizza (and that was with a 50% off coupon!).
4. Have a plan to execute the healthy dinner as I walk in the door. I was seriously stressed. If I had communicated my needs as discussed in (3) and then had a plan to get it started as soon as I walked in the door, it would have been cooking and ready as I dealt with all the other insanity while it was cooking. All it would have taken would have been thinking about the plan for less than 5 minutes of my 30 minute commute.
Many of the things I learned are subjects I have a million ideas and confirmed tricks to deal with, but even I have crazy days where they are not so second nature as to kick in when things get a little nutty.
Now, in my Facebook post I also mentioned how my horrific run turned into something positive. I am not forgetting that part, believe me! When I hit the treadmill on January 4, 2010, I noticed and committed to memory my distance at thirty-five minutes. Even with walking more than usual on Friday, and admittedly struggling and feeling horrible, questioning my abilities, and then being frustrated with my lack of attention to nutrition for the previous 24 hours, I reached that distance 3.5 minutes sooner than I had January 4. And, here I thought how my workout was such a failure - but really, that failure was still so much better than my "best" had been not even a month and a half before! That was inspiring! So much so, although I had planned to quit, I added another run interval and kept moving for 10 minutes more than I had planned as my run began to fall apart!
So, here is the question for you, my readers - When you have a crazy day, what is one thing you can have readily on hand to provide adequate nutrition to fuel your body? And, can you make it a priority to make sure this weekend, as you hit some store, you be sure you pick some up to have it on hand? Let me know what you decide on and how it works out for you!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Where did YOU go for lunch today?
I know some of you are cringing at that question because perhaps your answer was "I hit the drivethrough on my way to run an errand during my lunch hour!" Or maybe your answer is "What lunch? I had two screaming kids wanting to be fed and I ate cold spaghetti out of the fridge in between serving them!" Hey, it happens right?
I had an exceptional lunch today. I am allowed an hour for lunch. I don't always take an hour because I can shave off time at the beginning or end of my day by working through lunch, and sometimes that is necessary to care for my two children. But today I ran the emergency stairwell in my building for 20 minutes (and, my quads don't like me very much right now!). I can't do this every day, but every day I can is definitely ONE STEP (or several steps) in the right direction. It is hard to find the time to workout, but if you think about it, I just made the time. I brought my lunch (and many healthy snacks, but I will describe what works for me on eating at a later time). I ate a healthy light snack about an hour before my "lunch." Then I exercised, and followed that with a more substantial lunch. In just roughly 40 minutes I exceeded my Time Limit AND my Money Limit. The Time Limit is fairly straight forward - I fit in exercise, but instead of heading out to lunch, I also used the time I would take to go and get that lunch (drive time) and turned it into quality exercise time.
I also saved a TON of money. I typically, if I went out to lunch, would spend anywhere from $5 - $7 on a lunch. If I make lunch and bring it from home I typically spend $2-$4. So, I save anywhere from $1-$5 a day by bringing lunch. Do that one time a week and you save roughly $4-$20 a month. Or even $52 to $260 a year! Do that two times a week and you save $104 to $520 a year! And so on, you can do the math. the numbers are staggering. I almost NEVER go out to lunch, so I figure I save over $1000 a year! And, when you bring your lunch, YOU control what you eat. Furthermore, my workout was FREE! I didn't need to go to a gym to hit the stairs in my building, both saving on a gym membership fee AND gas money!
Now if you don't work during the day and typically don't hit the drive through on a regular basis, your savings will obviously be less. But planning a healthy lunch for yourself at the beginning of the day, maybe before the kids get up, to fit in between the "I want" and "I need" from your kids can help you be sure you are fueling yourself as well as you fuel your kids. And, if the weather permits, maybe you can all go for a walk AFTER lunch. I know my pre-schooler has a hard time sitting still long enough to eat a meal - but when I promise a walk if she eats a good lunch, well, it is amazing what that motivation can do!
So, what is a healthy lunch? I hope to bring you more ideas on that this week, but don't let that Knowledge Limit hold you back, I am sure you have some basic ideas of your own you can draw upon. So, where are YOU going for lunch TOMORROW? Leave a comment if you wish, it will help you feel motivated to do something other than the drive through if you post it for yourself, and others, to read! (Hey, that is exceeding that Motivation Limit too!)
For now, my lunch break is over!
I had an exceptional lunch today. I am allowed an hour for lunch. I don't always take an hour because I can shave off time at the beginning or end of my day by working through lunch, and sometimes that is necessary to care for my two children. But today I ran the emergency stairwell in my building for 20 minutes (and, my quads don't like me very much right now!). I can't do this every day, but every day I can is definitely ONE STEP (or several steps) in the right direction. It is hard to find the time to workout, but if you think about it, I just made the time. I brought my lunch (and many healthy snacks, but I will describe what works for me on eating at a later time). I ate a healthy light snack about an hour before my "lunch." Then I exercised, and followed that with a more substantial lunch. In just roughly 40 minutes I exceeded my Time Limit AND my Money Limit. The Time Limit is fairly straight forward - I fit in exercise, but instead of heading out to lunch, I also used the time I would take to go and get that lunch (drive time) and turned it into quality exercise time.
I also saved a TON of money. I typically, if I went out to lunch, would spend anywhere from $5 - $7 on a lunch. If I make lunch and bring it from home I typically spend $2-$4. So, I save anywhere from $1-$5 a day by bringing lunch. Do that one time a week and you save roughly $4-$20 a month. Or even $52 to $260 a year! Do that two times a week and you save $104 to $520 a year! And so on, you can do the math. the numbers are staggering. I almost NEVER go out to lunch, so I figure I save over $1000 a year! And, when you bring your lunch, YOU control what you eat. Furthermore, my workout was FREE! I didn't need to go to a gym to hit the stairs in my building, both saving on a gym membership fee AND gas money!
Now if you don't work during the day and typically don't hit the drive through on a regular basis, your savings will obviously be less. But planning a healthy lunch for yourself at the beginning of the day, maybe before the kids get up, to fit in between the "I want" and "I need" from your kids can help you be sure you are fueling yourself as well as you fuel your kids. And, if the weather permits, maybe you can all go for a walk AFTER lunch. I know my pre-schooler has a hard time sitting still long enough to eat a meal - but when I promise a walk if she eats a good lunch, well, it is amazing what that motivation can do!
So, what is a healthy lunch? I hope to bring you more ideas on that this week, but don't let that Knowledge Limit hold you back, I am sure you have some basic ideas of your own you can draw upon. So, where are YOU going for lunch TOMORROW? Leave a comment if you wish, it will help you feel motivated to do something other than the drive through if you post it for yourself, and others, to read! (Hey, that is exceeding that Motivation Limit too!)
For now, my lunch break is over!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Eat Better America Coupon Book! Save AND Hit the Knowledge Limit Right on the Head!
I read about this on another blogs Facebook fan page, but thought I would pass it on - I registered for it tonight. This web site looks interesting. Perhaps one of the most valuable tools I found on it is healthier recipes with nutrition information. I can't tell you it is 100% accurate, but to get the coupon booklet you have to sign up for the site. I will keep you posted on what I learn from the site and update you on the results of my spot checks for accurate nutrition information!
You can go here to register and receive your $10.00 worth of coupons.
A BIG THANK YOU to a Facebook Fan of Thriftynorthwestmom.
Speaking of Facebook Fan Pages.....head on over to our Facebook Fan page to be up to date on all the best Healthy Deals!
You can go here to register and receive your $10.00 worth of coupons.
A BIG THANK YOU to a Facebook Fan of Thriftynorthwestmom.
Speaking of Facebook Fan Pages.....head on over to our Facebook Fan page to be up to date on all the best Healthy Deals!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Free Kashi Sample!
Kashi is offering a free sample of some great snack ideas! Just go here Kashi free sample site and register to receive a sample of either cereal or a bar! And, from my experience, many times these samples are sent with some FANTASTIC coupons! Enjoy - perhaps you will find a healthier snack alternative for you and your family!
Let's Kick it Off with a Way to Save or Even Get FREE Gear!
One of the easiest ways I have found to get some of the little extras to make training more fun or more comfortable is by using Swagbucks to search the internet! By registering for Swagbucks, you can earn, well, Swagbucks that you can trade in for gift cards (or other prizes if those prizes interest you!). My personal favorite way to earn is to use my Swagbucks to get Amazon gift cards. Over about 4 months with just searching the web through the Swagbucks site, I have earned over 50.00 in Amazon gift cards to put towards books, dvds, beauty products, music downloads, and now I am saving them to put towards an indoor bike trainer! I was very skeptical at first, but this site is legitimate!
The search engine is a combination of google and ask.com - it has proven time and time again accurate. You can also download a toolbar to add to your regular internet toolbar that can provide additional ways to earn Swagbucks!
If you are interested in learning more, I have put the Swagbucks' button on the side of my blog - just click on it and check it out and start earning to do the internet searches you would perform anyway! And, save on things you need, or maybe those little extras you couldn't otherwise afford!
So, what would you buy with your Amazon gift cards that might keep you motivated or give you knowledge to take another step towards success?
The search engine is a combination of google and ask.com - it has proven time and time again accurate. You can also download a toolbar to add to your regular internet toolbar that can provide additional ways to earn Swagbucks!
If you are interested in learning more, I have put the Swagbucks' button on the side of my blog - just click on it and check it out and start earning to do the internet searches you would perform anyway! And, save on things you need, or maybe those little extras you couldn't otherwise afford!
So, what would you buy with your Amazon gift cards that might keep you motivated or give you knowledge to take another step towards success?
What are your LIMITS?
Frequently what stops me from succeeding at a goal are what I like to think of as my Limits. I don't mean my physical limits, but the more practical, mostly mental, Limits that allow me have excuses or allow me to rationalize why I didn't take that first step towards success. We all have them, and they are very personal. But at the same time, I have found them to be very common, in a general sense, to every person. You can't move forward until you recognize what has held you where you are for however long you have been stationary in that one place. My theme has become "Exceed your Limits, one step at a time and one day at a time!" I want to start by sharing my Limits, and ask that you share yours.
1. Time. I am a mom of two kids under 5. I also work full time. My time is limited for finding time to work out, time to plan meals, time to think about choices (whether it be food, type of workout, or just how to spend the little time I have that is not accounted for by kids or work).
2. Money. Let's face it, times have changed for almost all Americans. I am no exception. Gone are the days of reckless spending. Gone are the days of not worrying about where the money will come from for next week's groceries, next month's mortgage, or that random purchase of some luxury item, big or small. Gone are the days of purchasing something without a small thought of whether your paycheck will be deposited next month. Now, I plan every purchase, from food to clothes, to the occasional fitness gear purchase, to a penny. I use coupons, I read money saving blogs, and, I forego a lot of things or find perhaps a less expensive, and usually a compromise in quality, alternative.
3. Motivation. This is always an issue. Sometimes it is about being selfish, because I can usually find a reason to avoid taking that first step because it takes away time or effort from my children, from my job, from managing the family finances, from whatever someone else needs from me. Other times it is just a plain inability to realize that even one little step (e.g. going for a walk even if it isn't a 5K run) is a step in the right direction. Motivation is also inextricably linked to accountability for me. If I am not accountable for taking those steps, day by day, to someone other than myself, I can rationalize letting myself down (perhaps another Limit is self respect?). I need to be accountable.
4. Confidence. This is perhaps, for me, where my current physical limitations factor in the most. I can't run 8 miles on a group run, so, I don't go. I am SLOW.....so I am embarrassed to let others see how slow I am. When I can overcome my own lack of confidence, though, and actually SHOW UP I find it was NOTHING to be worried about. There is usually someone I can maintain with, and even if there isn't, pushing to do what I can usually reveals I can do a lot more than I thought! It is a daily struggle, one step at a time, one day at a time.
5. Knowledge. Sometimes I examine my choices and I just don't know enough about each choice to make an informed decision. For example, I need to get out on my bike to train. I want to explore purchasing a used bike since my current bike is really undersized. I am paralyzed because I don't know where to start. I struggled and struggled, and actually avoided the issue because, well, I just didn't know how to even take the first step. I then had the opportunity to speak to a bike rep recently who, in 15 minutes, answered some questions and sent me in the right direction. I don't have a new bike, but just knowing the direction I want to head, has moved me past paralyzed and has me looking forward to getting out there on my current bike until I can find what I want (of course, I still need to exceed my money limitation, but that is the next step!)
It is from these Limits that this blog was born. I have learned many ways of dealing with these Limits that I believe, if shared with others, will be helpful to promote success in healthy living for others and, honestly, our children. I can predict that every post on this blog will somehow be related to how I exceed my Limits that I shared above. This blog is, itself, a way I deal with a Limit. By sharing and putting a burden on myself to share and help others with the same struggles in everyday life, I have added motivation to keep me moving forward and accountability to fuel that motivation. In addition, if we share money saving ideas, we can all exceed the Money Limit. I plan to share healthy deals on this blog either from my readers or from my own research.
So, here is where YOU come in. I need to know YOUR Limits. Why, you ask? I truly do want this to be a resource for my readers, not a personal story of my journey. Everyone has different Limits and I want to know yours so I can perhaps add to our collective community Limits and become a resource for exceeding Limits that perhaps are not on my main list.
So, Welcome! And Please Join In- leave a comment with your Limits and briefly describe them so I can see what Limits you, my readers, are facing. This is an open invitation to leave these comments at any time, it is an ongoing process. Not able to exceed the Confidence Limit yet and post a public comment, email me at brickstrainingmomma@gmail.com. I can't wait to hear from you and learn more about what Limits you will exceed, one step at a time one day at a time!
Also, be sure to subscribe via email, follow me on Twitter, or become a fan of our facebook page by clicking on the paths to do so on the side panel!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
